The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. 81


WASHINGTON, D. G.. Feb. 81, 1887.
AS to what Congress Is doing just
now, / may say the Senate is overdo-
ing the Naval Appropriation business,
and the House is trying TO get on with
the regular, indispensable appropria-
tion bills. The past week was marked
by some important legislation, promi-
nent among which was the passage of
the Eads'-Tehuantepec Ship Railway,
bill, by the Senate and the rigorous
AutiPolygamy bill by both the Senate
and House.
You may remember that this meas
ure passed the Senate some time since
but it was amended by the House, and
now the Senate has passed it as it came
from the House.
Only seven votes were recorded
against the scheme of Capt. Eads tor
constructing ship railway across the
isthmus of Tehuantepec. These were
cast by Senators Edmunds, Jones of
Arkansas, Morrill,, Platt, Vance, Van
Wyck, and Wilson of Iowa. The bill
incorporates Capt. Eads and some
eighty other persons named, as a body
polite under the name of the Atlantic
and Pacific Ship Railway Company.
The stock is not to exceed 500, 0,000,-
600; and when ten per cent. of stock
is subscribed and ten per cent. paid in
cash, meeting of stockholders is to
be held in Washington or New York,
for the election of directors. If ten
millions of stock is not subscribed for,
and ten per cent. of it paid in cash
within two years, the charter is to ex-
pire by limitation. Consequently the
Government is not committed to the
project pecuniarily, and makes no guar
aniees.
The Senate has passed bills appro-
priating about fifty millions for ships
of war coast defenses and other warlike
preparations. If the Senate had really
wanted to do something for the Navy,
it would have passed these bills early
enough to permit of their consideration
by the House of Representatives. 1t
ought not be expected that the House
will pass measures of such magnitude,
without an examination which there Is
not now time to give. But, of course,
the Senate will get the credit of hav-
ing made brilliant effort towards an
increase of the naval establishment,
and the House will be condemned for
neglect of its duty in this matter.
Every ybody Is wondering whom the
President will appoint on the Interstate
Commission. Among the scores of
men who have been mentioned for a
place, Gen. Atkins, the present Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, is one of
the latest. His friends say he is a man
who could be officially, as much of
friend TO the railroads as 10 the people.
Said one of them, "He could do Justice
to both, and at the same time has NOR
al force sufficient to outride the temp
tation of winking at the New York
brokers for consideration"
On next Thursday an effort will be
made in the House of Representatives
10 pass the Pauper Pension bill over
he Presidents veto, and the Republi-
Sans are expected to press the matter
% such an extent that there will doubt
ess be pretty lively fight. The i'm
preston is, however that it will be i'm
possible TO oyerrule the veto.
The first Mexican pension under the
ecen. act granting pensions TO the sur
Iivors of that war, was issued on last